Page 12 of Healing Creek
He shrugged. “Sure. No problem.”
Grace wrapped an arm around Creek’s waist, hoping he would put some of his weight on her, but of course he didn’t. At least she’d be able to steady him if he lost his balance again.
When they reached the med-bay, an Arena Dog stood guard at the entrance. His appearance was similar to Creek’s, muscled but not as big, with bronze skin and silky black hair. Creek’s hair was a little longer, reaching midway down his back. She knew there were many different kinds of Arena Dogs, many different genetic combinations. Unlike Creek, this new male was dressed in normal clothing. Still, he would stand out anywhere—his height, the way he held himself, the not-so-human facial features. Black eyes with licks of fire in their depths studied her like ancient cavemen must have stared into the night, protecting their sleeping families.
“Creek’s injured.” Knock spoke to the Arena Dog then turned to face her, walking backward when she didn’t slow down. “The guy with the grim reaper frown is Lo.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder then banged his arm as he attempted to go through the door. He cursed softly and stopped to rub his elbow, then changed direction, heading back down the corridor. “You’re here. I’m going back to the security station. Medic’s inside.”
Diablo stepped in as they passed, taking Creek out of her grasp. “How did you get injured, friend?”
“It’s from earlier. Just a bruise.” Creek let the other Dog lead him to one of the med-beds, so Grace saw no reason to argue.
The med-bay was large, with beds for several patients at once. The medic, a gray-haired man with a rounded belly, came out of a small office in the back. Grace resisted the urge to push Diablo aside to stand at Creek’s bedside. Instead, she stood in the middle of the room and tried for patience. Creek had been so kind and comforting and she wanted to be there for him.
“Hello.”
Grace startled at the soft voice that came from behind her. She spun to see two women at the other side of the room. The one who’d spoken was petite with lush gold-brown hair and bright green eyes. She stood next to an aftercare bed where the other woman lay, curled on her side and sleeping. Probably on meds, considering the noise of their entry hadn’t woken her.
“I’m Samantha,” the woman tried again. “You’re worried about him.” Samantha indicated Creek with a nod of her head. She seemed, not exactly surprised, but maybe curious that Grace should be concerned for Creek. “Medic Shawber is competent, and he seems willing to aid us. I sent away the ones who weren’t.”
“That’s good.” Grace shot a quick glance over her shoulder and saw that the medic was setting up for an internal scan—as any good medic would.
“You don’t look like crew. So, you must be the one Morgan was holding prisoner.” Samantha’s soft voice drew her attention back to the two women.
It wasn’t a question, so Grace said nothing. Her tongue felt stuck in her mouth and her fingers began to twitch against her thigh. Something about the way Samantha held herself, the way she spoke as if she were in charge, made it clear that she’d come with the Arena Dogs. Her scrutiny made Grace feel weighed and found wanting.
Samantha frowned, her lightly curved eyebrows drawing together in concern. “Do you need to see a medic, too? Were you injured in the disruption?”
Grace took a deep breath then forced the words to come. “No, I’m fine, really.”
“All right,” said Samantha. “Can you tell me why you’re here?”
“I wanted to make sure Creek got medical attention.” But that wasn’t what the woman had been asking. She could see the woman waiting for more. “St. Germaine kidnapped me.” She’d already said as much to Creek, but thoughts of the man who called himself Ghost held her back from saying more.
“Do you know why Morgan did that?”
Of course, the woman wouldn’t let her off so easy.
Grace shrugged. “My family would pay ransom for me.”
“Your family?”
Grace hesitated. If she named her family, the founders of Hobbs-Venter Life Tech Industries, would this woman, who traveled with Arena Dogs, suspect the connection? Would it help her or make Samantha more suspicious of her?
“I’m sure you must be eager to get back to them,” said Samantha. When Grace stood silent, Samantha added, “Your family.”
“Yes. Of course,” she agreed. Though she didn’t know what that would mean for her sister and there was Ghost to consider. Desperate to leave the topic of her family, Grace let her gaze drift to the woman laying behind Samantha. “Is your friend all right?” She replayed the earlier conversation between Creek and Knock in her mind. “Feeona, right?”
Samantha’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “That’s right.”
“Knock mentioned she’d been injured.” And that she was Jupiter’s mate. Was Samantha a mate to one of the Arena Dogs too? She didn’t think mates were common among them, let alone human ones. But then she hadn’t known there were Arena Dogs anywhere but Roma.
Samantha nodded. “Feeona’s quite the hero of the day, but she’ll be fine. Just a minor injury.”
Grace couldn’t stop herself from looking over her shoulder to check on how Creek was doing. When she turned back, satisfied that he was receiving good care, she looked at Samantha more closely. Beneath her golden beauty lay signs of fatigue. A slight purple hue beneath her eyes. A complexion that seemed too pale to be natural for her.
“Why are you worried about him?” Samantha’s smile was starting to show strain at the edges.
“He has internal bleeding, I’m sure of it. But like you said, the medic seems competent.” Grace hesitated. It wasn’t polite to tell someone they didn’t look well, but—“Areyouokay?”
